Letters to the editor: 2/13

Pope Benedict's 'voice of conscience' to be missed

When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI, we all knew that his papacy would not last as long as some predecessors'. So his resignation should not be a complete surprise, and we ought to praise God for the eight years that Pope Benedict has been able to serve and lead the Catholic Church.

Still, even though I am not Catholic, I was saddened to read Monday of his resignation. I have known this humble man personally for the last 18 years, and through personal encounters and correspondence, I have developed a deep respect for him. Already as a cardinal, and then as pope, he has been a tireless advocate for the true values of Christianity - values which are sadly being lost, and attacked, all over the world.

Pope Benedict is one of the few voices that have had the courage to speak out for true Christ-like discipleship and for traditional family values. With his resignation, we are losing a voice of conscience that we can ill afford to lose, even as it has been rejected and criticized.

I am going to miss Brother Benedict very much and will have him on my prayers. And I pray that the Catholic Church will be led and guided in appointing his successor.

Johann Christoph Arnold

senior pastor, Bruderhof Communities

Rifton

State's fracking review flawed, inadequate

The Poughkeepsie Journal confuses the amount of time the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has had to study the likely adverse impacts of fracking with actually conducting a thorough review of those impacts, (Editorial: "Fracking decision must be made," Feb. 10). The truth is that the state's review is woefully inadequate. In a number of essential areas, including fracking's likely health impacts and the indisputable costs it will impose on local communities and state taxpayers, the state's review is completely lacking.

This flawed review will not secure the public's trust on fracking, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo has admitted the state has yet to earn. Moving forward absent this key information signals the governor is willing to bow to pressure from the gas industry regardless of the public's lack of confidence. Gov. Cuomo should not make a decision on fracking until he has been provided with all of the facts, and until those facts have been shared with the public in a genuinely open and inclusive review process, if he is truly committed to protecting the interests of all New Yorkers.

Kate Hudson

director,

Riverkeeper's Watershed Program

Ossining

DOT makes traffic mess at Spackenkill, Route 9

Fifty or so years ago, Spackenkill Road intersected with Route 9. Not good. Eventually, IBM and the New York state Department of Transportation built an overpass. Good. Now, I see the DOT has allowed a traffic light at Spackenkill Road and Route 9. Drivers can still choose to take the overpass, but it is not required. The red light significantly slows traffic on Route 9 at that location.

Amazing! Thirty or so years ago, when DOT was considering adding a third lane to Route 9, I suggested a north-south freeway, near the river, and leave Route 9 as two lanes "for the shoppers."

That was nixed because land was too expensive to condemn. I also suggested an overpass near the Holiday Inn (and close all the left-turn lanes and traffic lights on Route 9). That was also nixed, because the plaza owners paid for the lights and would not allow the left-turn lanes to be closed. I replied, "Who asked them?" but that got no good response, either. So, you commuters and shoppers can thank your DOT and mall owners for the all the efficient traffic on Route 9.

Joe Rebholtz

Town of Poughkeepsie

Congress: Tell NRA to obey law or pay penalty

Isn't it about time that Congress told the National Rifle Association that when Congress passes a law, that organization will obey the law or pay the penalty?

J.M Zatlukal

Wappingers Falls

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Letters to the editor: 2/13

When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI, we all knew that his papacy would not last as long as some predecessors'.